Michigan's Best Reach Higher at Milford
August 4, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP – Mackenna Kelly led her basketball team to last season’s MHSAA Semifinals and knows where she’ll eventually end up – playing for Central Michigan University in two years.
But having played on a big stage with her next destination decided didn’t keep the Frankfort senior-to-be from gaining valuable insight during this summer’s Reaching Higher showcase at Milford High School.
While most of the 200 players who participated in July’s girls and boys events sponsored by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan and MHSAA did so in part to train and play in front of the numerous college coaches gathered, Kelly was able to experience a little bit of a primer for her summer 2016.
“(Reaching Higher) is a great opportunity to get noticed, show off your skills and work with different people,” said Kelly, who will sign with the Chippewas this fall. “When you go to college you’re unfamiliar with all of your teammates at first. It’s good to start working with other people.”
The Reaching Higher events, in their seventh year, again featured many of the top 100 girls and boys college prospects as selected by a BCAM committee. College coaches representing more than 30 programs combined (men’s and women’s) and all levels attended the sessions.
Former Detroit Cooley standout and current Orlando Magic guard Willie Green spoke with the boys, while former Grosse Pointe North star and University of Notre Dame captain Ariel Braker discussed with the girls some of the challenges that come with being a college athlete. Participants also learned about NCAA eligibility, and parents attended sessions on college recruiting. Meanwhile, groups of officials learned from experienced mentors and then were evaluated during games later in the events.
Players left Milford with plenty to take home not only from a personal standpoint, but to assist their teammates as well.
For Kelly, it was the potential value of the pick-and-roll game for the Panthers, who fell to St. Ignace one game from the Class D Final in March. For Munising junior Marissa Immel, it was the variety of drills she and her teammates can add to work on their skills.
Belleville sophomore Davion Williams is considered one of the state’s top prospects in his class, but saw that he needs to step up his pull-up shooting. Senior teammate Calvin Blaydes appreciated the opportunity to play with such a strong group of players – and also the necessity to adjust his game to fit theirs and a different coach’s style during the three scrimmage sessions. Jackson junior Shonte Suddeth listened closely to the Magic’s Green; “Everything he said he was doing, I’ve got to do if I want to make it to the next level,” Suddeth said.
“If you're a state’s top-100 player, you need to be here,” said Muskegon boys coach Keith Guy, who has assisted with the event since its start and led the Big Reds to the Class A title in 2014. “I think it’s a great way the state is trying to give back to these athletes ... and I think kids need to take more advantage of this opportunity.”
Click for photos of the girls event and photos from the boys event, and see below for video explaining the Reaching Higher events.
PHOTOS: (Top) Fruitport's Iyana Brown (92) and Temperance Bedford's Kendall Anderson prepare to launch for the jump ball during a Reaching Higher scrimmage. (Middle) Southfield Christian's Brock Washington prepares for a free throw.
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 7
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 13, 2025
We've reached the midpoint of this boys basketball season, and that means shifting gears slightly as we take on the next six weeks before District play begins.
We will still be highlighting the major statewide matchups our teams play, of course, and have done so with last week's below. But the focus at this point for most has turned to league play, and we're highlighting several potential title deciders as well, including with all five of our "Can't-Miss Contests" coming up over the next five days.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Berrien Springs 69, Benton Harbor 51 Berrien Springs (7-2) moved into first place alone in the Lakeland Conference after having been swept by eventual co-champion Benton Harbor (8-3) last season.
2. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 66, Muskegon 50 The Warriors (12-1) made a statewide statement in this matchup of Division 1 contenders at the GottaGetIt Classic at East Kentwood, handing the Big Reds (8-1) their lone loss.
3. Grass Lake 39, Michigan Center 34 Grass Lake (9-0) remained undefeated and moved into first place alone in the Cascades Conference East, sending Michigan Center (9-2) to second.
4. East Lansing 69, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 68 The Trojans (10-1) held on in East Kentwood in another matchup of Division 1 contenders, although the Eaglets (7-5) played without injured star Trey McKenney.
5. Jackson Lumen Christi 53, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep 41 The Titans (10-0) impressed in winning the Traverse City Catholic School Tournament, downing Hackett (9-2) after defeating Saginaw Nouvel in their semifinal.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Lansing Waverly (7-2) The Warriors – 19-6 and District champs a year ago – moved into a tie for second place in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue with last week’s 48-45 win over Okemos, and their only two losses this season are to league leader East Lansing and Flint Carman-Ainsworth – which are a combined 18-1. Waverly also handed Belleville what remains its lone defeat, 60-53 on Dec. 7, and will get another shot at East Lansing on the road Feb. 7.
Warren Fitzgerald (9-1) The Spartans made a nice jump last season, going from 10-14 two years ago to 17-6 and Macomb Area Conference Gold champions. Now in the MAC White, Fitzgerald has jumped out to a quick co-lead thanks in part to a 67-37 win over Utica, which avenged a league tournament championship loss from last season. The Spartans also have avenged a last-season loss to Detroit Edison and handed Waterford Mott its lone defeat, falling only to Grosse Pointe South 39-37.
DIVISION 2
Freeland (9-1) The Falcons are leading the Tri-Valley Conference Red again as they look to repeat as champions, thanks in part to a 67-61 overtime win over second-place Frankenmuth on Jan. 3. Freeland also is nearly halfway to last year’s 20 wins, with its lone loss 58-49 to Saginaw United on Dec. 11. Total, six of the team’s victories are against teams with winning records so far, and the Falcons will get another league challenge this week from Bay City John Glenn.
Onsted (10-0) The Wildcats have opened up an early lead in the Lenawee County Athletic Association as they seek to win the league title for the fourth-straight season, and they’ve also already avenged losses to Stockbridge and Dundee after finishing 20-6 a year ago. A 59-34 win over Adrian Madison on Dec. 12 is to thank for the top spot in league play, and a 63-57 win last week over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep also jumps out among first-half results.
DIVISION 3
Harbor Beach (8-1) The Pirates are a two-point loss to Blue Water Area Conference leader Yale from a perfect record, but have handed BWAC second-place Croswell-Lexington a 45-41 loss and can establish themselves as the lone team without one in the Big Thumb Conference Black with a win over Ubly on Wednesday. Harbor Beach won the former Greater Thumb Conference East by a large margin last season and finished 20-4 – a stunning jump from 7-12 in 2022-23.
Millington (8-0) The Cardinals have surged to the top of the first-year BTC White after tying for first in the TVC Blue a year ago. Their only single-digit games have come against Carrollton and Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, the former coming off a 2023-24 season split with the Cavaliers and the latter pushing Millington into the league lead alone last week. The Cardinals can take a couple more big steps in establishing themselves as conference favorites this week against Bad Axe and Reese, which joins Laker tied for second in the BTC White.
DIVISION 4
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (7-1) The Chargers went from second in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue all the way to the Division 4 Semifinals last season, and capped last week with a 59-50 win over Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest – the reigning league champion. Inter-City has played all larger schools so far this season and pulled out three wins by five or fewer points, with its lone loss to Division 2 Detroit Voyageur College Prep, 63-57.
Pickford (8-1) A 67-42 win over Rudyard is likely the highlight so far; in addition to facing Rudyard twice a year in Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference play, Pickford also has seen its last three seasons end with losses to the Bulldogs. The Panthers also downed St. Ignace by 43 after being swept by the Saints a year ago and has swept Brimley coming off a 2023-24 season split with the Bays. The lone loss came to Harbor Springs; no other opponent has come closer than 17 points to catching Pickford.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Hartford (9-1) at Centreville (7-0) – These two are both undefeated in Southwest 10 Conference action, Hartford with a half-game lead having played one more league game.
Tuesday – Cheboygan (8-1) at Harbor Springs (9-1) – Harbor Springs is undefeated in Northern Shores Conference play and Cheboygan is one of three teams tied for second, but these two have been the best of the bunch overall so far.
Thursday – Okemos (10-1) at East Lansing (10-1) – East Lansing has taken on and defeated several of the state’s elite, but this time will do so to hold onto first place alone in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Thursday – Yale (10-1) at Croswell-Lexington (8-3) – This will be the first of two meetings between these Blue Water Area Conference rivals, and Yale holds a one-game edge at the top of the league standings.
Friday – Petersburg Summerfield (10-0) at Adrian Lenawee Christian (8-1) – This pair is tied atop the Tri-County Conference standings heading into their first of two meetings.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) A Mt. Morris player soars toward the basket during his team's 70-42 loss at Davison last week. (Middle) Iron Mountain's Oskar Kangas blocks a shot by Marquette's Kyler Sager during their teams' December matchup, won by the Sentinels 67-47. (Mt. Morris/Davison photo by Terry Lyons. Iron Mountain/Marquette photo by Cara Kamps.)